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Unit 140 · Phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs 4 on/off (1)

Study

A

on and off for lights, machines etc.

We say:

›

the light is on / put the light on / leave the light on etc.

›

turn the light on/off or switch the light on/off

›

Shall I leave the lights on or turn them off?

›

'Is the heating on?' 'No, I switched it off.'

also

put (music, a song) on, put the kettle on:

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Let's put some music on. What would you like to hear?

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We need boiling water, so I'll put the kettle on.

B

on and off for events etc.

go on = happen

›

What's all that noise? What's going on? (= what's happening)

call something off = cancel it

›

The concert in the park had to be called off because of the weather.

put something off, put off doing something = delay it

›

The election has been put off until January.

›

We can't put off making a decision. We have to decide now.

C

on and off for clothes etc.

put on clothes, glasses, make-up, a seat belt etc.

›

My hands were cold, so I put on my gloves.

put on weight = get heavier

›

I've put on two kilos in the last month.

try on clothes (to see if they fit)

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I tried on a jacket in the shop, but it didn't look right.

take off clothes, glasses etc.

›

It was warm, so I took off my coat.

D

off = away from a person or place

be off (to a place)

›

Tomorrow I'm off to Paris. / I'm off on holiday.

(= I'm going to Paris / I'm going on holiday)

walk off / run off / drive off / ride off / go off (similar to walk away / run away etc.)

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Anna got on her bike and rode off.

›

Mark left home at the age of eighteen and went off to Canada.

set off = start a journey

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We set off early to avoid the traffic. (= We left early)

take off = leave the ground (for planes)

›

After a long delay, the plane finally took off.

see somebody off = go with them to the airport/station to say goodbye

›

Helen was going away. We went to the station with her to see her off.

Exercises (3)

0/3 exercises checked
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140.1

Complete the sentences using put on + the following:

some musicthe heatingthe kettlethe lightthe oven
  1. 1
    It was getting dark, so I .example
  2. 2
    It was getting cold, so I .
  3. 3
    I wanted to bake a cake, so I .
  4. 4
    I wanted to make some tea, so I .
  5. 5
    I wanted to relax, so I .
140.2

Complete the sentences. Use a verb + on or off.

  1. 1
    It was hot in the cinema, so I my jacket.example
  2. 2
    What are all these people doing? What's ?
  3. 3
    The weather was too bad for the plane to , so the flight was delayed.
  4. 4
    Rachel got into her car and at high speed.
  5. 5
    Tim is too thin. He needs to weight.
  6. 6
    We spent the whole day walking. We at 8 am and walked for ten hours.
  7. 7
    Don't until tomorrow what you can do today.
  8. 8
    They've changed their minds about getting married. The wedding has been .
  9. 9
    Are you cold? Shall I get you a sweater to ?
  10. 10
    I some jeans in the shop, but they were too tight.
  11. 11
    When I go away, I prefer to be alone at the station or airport. I don't like it when people come to me .
  12. 12
    I need to make an appointment to see the dentist, but I keep it .
140.3

Look at the pictures and complete the sentences.

  1. 1
    Her hands were cold, so
    she her gloves .example
  2. 2
    The plane
    at 10.55.
  3. 3
    Maria
    but it was too big for her.
  4. 4
    The match
    because of the weather.
  5. 5
    Mark's parents went to the airport to
    .
  6. 6
    He took his sunglasses out of his pocket and
    .